■ noun
1》 fine, dry powder consisting of tiny particles of earth or waste matter.
↘any material in the form of tiny particles: coal ~.
↘ literary a dead person's remains.
2》 an act of ~ing.
■ verb
1》 remove ~ from the surface of.
↘( ~ something down/off ) bring something out for use again after a long period of neglect.
2》 cover lightly with a powdered substance.
3》 (usu. ~ someone up ) US informal beat up or kill.
Phrases
be done and ~ed informal (of a project) be completely finished or ready.
~ and ashes something that causes great disappointment.
eat someone's ~ N. Amer. informal fall far behind someone in a competitive situation.
leave someone/thing in the ~ surpass someone or something easily.
not see someone for ~ find that a person has made a hasty departure.
kick up a ~ (or US kick up ~ ) informal create a disturbance.
Derivatives
~less adjective
Origin
OE dūst , of Gmc origin.